Politics

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Governor Beebe will be discussing his recent meeting with President Obama regarding the fiscal cliff Wednesday, December 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Governor's Conference Room in the State Capitol. Beebe was invited to meet with the President as a member of the National Governors Association Executive Committee.

CONWAY, Ark. (AETN) — Candidates in four races have agreed to participate in “Election 2012: The Debates,” which will tape and air on the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) Oct. 23-25.

All debates will be held at the AETN studios, 350 South Donaghey Avenue, on the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway. Seating is limited, and seats may be reserved by calling 800-662-2386. Doors will open one hour prior to taping times.

CONWAY, Ark. (AETN) — Candidates in four races have agreed to participate in “Election 2012: The Debates,” which will tape and air on the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) Oct. 23-25.

All debates will be held at the AETN studios, 350 South Donaghey Avenue, on the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway. Seating is limited, and seats may be reserved by calling 800-662-2386. Doors will open one hour prior to taping times.

By Zachary O’Neal, College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office

CONWAY — Dr. Roderick P. Hart, dean of the College of Communication and professor of government at the University of Texas, Austin will visit the University of Central Arkansas as Scholar-in-Residence for Civic Engagement Oct. 10-11.

Hart will give a free public lecture, “Campaign 2012: Political Cynicism When We Need it the Least,” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m. in the College of Business Auditorium (107). Hart specializes in politics and the mass media. He has written 12 books, including his latest, “Political Keywords: Using Language That Uses Us.”

This event is a cooperative enterprise among the College of Fine Arts and Communication (Department of Communication), College of Liberal Arts (Department of Political Science) and UCA residence halls (Norris Taylor UCA Residential Colleges Fund).

CONWAY — The Capitol Steps, a musical and political satire group, will continue the UCA Public Appearances season with the first Broadway performance Oct. 8.

The 7:30 p.m. event at the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall is sponsored by the Arkansas Times.

The group formed in 1981 as a group of Senate staffers who banded together to satirize the people and places that employed them. Altogether the performers have worked 18 years in Congressional offices and have 62 years of House and Senate staff experience.

“The skits are not always about politicians,” Ashley Love, director of finance and marketing for UCA Public Appearances, said. “On YouTube, there’s a skit on being overly medicated where they make fun of people taking medication for no reason.”

Today's THV will be giving you complete coverage of the election on THV2 and THV2.com. For more news on politics, including the latest in the presidential race, visit our Campaign 2012 section on todaysthv.com.

CONWAY, Ark. (KTHV) -- Here's something you don't see every day: a Democratic and Republican Congressman uniting on a tax issue.

Conway officials met with Congressmen Tim Griffin and Mike Ross on a proposal to raise the state's severance tax on natural gas.

This is a hot button issue, with some taking shots. Mayors, councilmen and residents all met at the Conway Chamber of Commerce, all oppose raising that tax. They're afraid it will cause gas companies to pull up stakes and go elsewhere; taking with them jobs and business. But tax supporters say that's hog wash.

Congressmen from opposite sides of the aisle -- Republican Tim Griffin and Democrat Mike Ross -- sit on the same side of the table on this issue.

"In tough economic times an unnecessary tax increase is the last things Arkansans need," says Ross.